The Bandidos will regroup from Waco by going on a PR campaign. The DPS projects Bandidos members will attempt to change their public perception by adding new members with clean criminal backgrounds and organizing charity events. less

The Bandidos will regroup from Waco by going on a PR campaign. The DPS projects Bandidos members will attempt to change their public perception by adding new members with clean criminal backgrounds and ... more

Photo: John Davenport, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Waco may have been the Cossacks coming out party. The motorcycle gang has roots going back to the 1960s, but only debuted on the DPS's Texas Gang Threat Assessment in 2015 after a deadly clash with the Bandidos Motorcycle Club in Waco on May 17 that left nine people dead.

Among Tier 1 gangs, Tango Blast is still the No. 1 gang in Texas, with an estimated 15,000 members statewide. Texas Mexican Mafia comes in a distant second with 4,700 members, followed by the Texas Syndicate (3,400 members), Latin Kings (2,100 members) and MS-13 (800 members). less

Among Tier 1 gangs, Tango Blast is still the No. 1 gang in Texas, with an estimated 15,000 members statewide. Texas Mexican Mafia comes in a distant second with 4,700 members, followed by the Texas Syndicate ... more

Photo: .

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The Tango blast clique is growing quickly in prisons in part because of loose restrictions compared to other gang affiliations.According to DPS, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice does not consider Tango Blast a "security threat group (STG)," so jailed members are housed in general population, rather than being segregated. The improved treatment leads to increased in-jail recruitment, according to the DPS. less

The Tango blast clique is growing quickly in prisons in part because of loose restrictions compared to other gang affiliations. According to DPS, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice does not consider Tango ... more

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Tango Blast has grown by finally spreading from the 'Four Horsemen' cities – Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin – to West and South Texas.The cliques in the Rio Grande Valley and West Texas now rival the original four cliques in membership.

Tango Blast has grown by finally spreading from the 'Four Horsemen' cities – Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin – to West and South Texas. The cliques in the Rio Grande Valley and West Texas now rival ... more

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There may be no slowing down the growth of Tango Blast.Because the gang does not require "blood-in, blood-out" membership, new members are more easily recruited. And due to a lack or hierarchy and by-laws, sub-cliques are more easily established and grown. Members of other gangs also are increasingly joining Tango Blast in prison if a void of their own gang is present. less

There may be no slowing down the growth of Tango Blast.Because the gang does not require "blood-in, blood-out" membership, new members are more easily recruited. And due to a lack or hierarchy and by-laws, ... more

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Texas gangs are leveraging strong ties with Mexican cartels to smuggle people into Texas illegally. The relationships between gangs and cartels are constant, but show no particular loyalties or allegiances. Tango Blast, Texas Syndicate, Bloods, Crips, Gangster Disciples and MS-13 all were identified as active in human smuggling operations in 2014. less

Texas gangs are leveraging strong ties with Mexican cartels to smuggle people into Texas illegally. The relationships between gangs and cartels are constant, but show no particular loyalties or ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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The feuds between gangs are dying as more gangs look to collaborate for profit.Members of law enforcement also are increasingly seeing gang members with memberships in multiple organizations, presenting a challenge in investigating gang hierarchies. less

The feuds between gangs are dying as more gangs look to collaborate for profit.Members of law enforcement also are increasingly seeing gang members with memberships in multiple organizations, presenting a ... more

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Infringed cartel ties and and law enforcement efforts are putting a crunch on Barrio Azteca. For the first time, Barrio Azteca has been downgraded from a Tier 1 Threat to a Tier 2, due in part to losing their exclusivity to cartels in Juarez and law enforcement disruptions. less

Infringed cartel ties and and law enforcement efforts are putting a crunch on Barrio Azteca. For the first time, Barrio Azteca has been downgraded from a Tier 1 Threat to a Tier 2, due in part to losing their ... more

Photo: Kmhui@express-news.net

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Latin Kings and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) are on the rise.Both gangs are new additions to the Tier 1 Threat group in 2015.

Latin Kings and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) are on the rise.Both gangs are new additions to the Tier 1 Threat group in 2015.

Photo: Bexar County Sheriff's Office

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Latin Kings leads among gangs with female members. It's believed that the percentage of women in Texas gangs is below the national average of 10 percent. Of those gangs, the "Latin Queens" of the Latin Kings is the best known. Females more often play support roles in gangs, coordinating drugs, money and communications. However, some evidence exists female members may be moving into more active roles in some gangs. less

Latin Kings leads among gangs with female members. It's believed that the percentage of women in Texas gangs is below the national average of 10 percent. Of those gangs, the "Latin Queens" of the Latin Kings ... more

Photo: PEDRO ARMESTRE, AFP / Getty Images

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Smaller gangs are doing increasingly bigger damage. Gangs like the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, Bloods, Crips, Texas Chicano Brotherhood and Partido Revolcionaro Mexicano (PRM) lack the size and structure or larger gangs like Tango Blast, but are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime. less

MS-13 is being fed by new members crossing into Texas illegally. The number of encounters between MS-13 members and border law enforcement has grown each year since 2011.

MS-13 is being fed by new members crossing into Texas illegally. The number of encounters between MS-13 members and border law enforcement has grown each year since 2011.

Photo: (FBI)

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Law enforcement officers in Texas have identified 5,600 gangs statewide. While gang activity is widespread, only about 15 percent have more than 11 members.

Law enforcement officers in Texas have identified 5,600 gangs statewide. While gang activity is widespread, only about 15 percent have more than 11 members.

Photo: Texas Department Of Public Safety, 2015

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The Crips, Surenos, Bloods and Latin Kings are the largest and most active street gangs in North Texas. Tango Blast, Aryan Brotherhood and Aryan Circle are the most active prison gangs in the region.

The Crips, Surenos, Bloods and Latin Kings are the largest and most active street gangs in North Texas. Tango Blast, Aryan Brotherhood and Aryan Circle are the most active prison gangs in the region.

Photo: George Rose, File

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The Crips (seen), Bloods, Latin Kings and Surenos are the largest and most active gangs in southeast Texas and Houston.The largest and most active prison gangs include Tango Blast, Aryan Brotherhood, Texas Syndicate and Aryan Circle. less

The Crips (seen), Bloods, Latin Kings and Surenos are the largest and most active gangs in southeast Texas and Houston. The largest and most active prison gangs include Tango Blast, Aryan Brotherhood, Texas ... more

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Houston is a major supplier to Texas prison gangs. Roughly 33 percent of gang members entering the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system in 2014 were from the southeast Texas region, with 90 percent of those coming from Greater Houston. less

Houston is a major supplier to Texas prison gangs. Roughly 33 percent of gang members entering the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system in 2014 were from the southeast Texas region, with 90 percent of ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

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The Texas border is far less diverse in gang affiliation than other regions in the state. Tango Blast cliques along the Rio Grande Valley and in Corpus Christi are the region's major players, along with Texas Syndicate and Texas Mexican Mafia. Tri-City Bombers, Latin Kings and Surenos are more active on a street gang level. less

The Texas border is far less diverse in gang affiliation than other regions in the state. Tango Blast cliques along the Rio Grande Valley and in Corpus Christi are the region's major players, along with Texas ... more

Photo: Bexar County Sheriff's Office

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Barrio Azteca has its greatest foothold in West Texas, which also has a strong presence of tango cliques and Surenos. Only six percent of statewide gang activity is found in the region, however, according to the number of members entering the TDCJ system. less

Barrio Azteca has its greatest foothold in West Texas, which also has a strong presence of tango cliques and Surenos. Only six percent of statewide gang activity is found in the region, however, according to ... more

Photo: StopHoustonGangs.org

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Tango Blast, Texas Mexican Mafia and the Bloods are the most significant gangs in Central Texas, including San Antonio and Austin. The Bloods, Crips, Surenos and Latin Kings are the most active street gangs, while Tango Blast cliques in San Antonio (Orejones) and Austin (La Capirucha) rule the prisons, along with the Texas Mexican Mafia and Aryan Brotherhood. less

Tango Blast, Texas Mexican Mafia and the Bloods are the most significant gangs in Central Texas, including San Antonio and Austin. The Bloods, Crips, Surenos and Latin Kings are the most active street gangs, ... more

Photo: StopHoustonGangs.org

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Gangs are increasingly open to mixing memberships. the so-called "hybrid members" allow the gangs to grow their empires with increased influence both in prisons and on the streets.

Gangs are increasingly open to mixing memberships. the so-called "hybrid members" allow the gangs to grow their empires with increased influence both in prisons and on the streets.

Photo: U.S. Department Of Justice

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The state of Texas gangs: Highlights from the 2015 Texas Gang Threat Assessment

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A newly released report shows an evolving gang landscape in Texas highlighted by fewer feuds and more synergy, leading to more influence, more cash and more crime.

The Department of Public Safety's annual Texas Gang Threat Assessment again lists Tango Blast as the state's most predominant gang, boasting 15,000 members statewide. The gang's growth from prison protection group to major player in gang activity on both sides of the bars was assisted by a loose organizational structure that allowed new cliques to more easily form as well as members of other gangs to more easily join.

Now, seemingly other Texas gangs are taking a cue from Tango Blast, feuding less and working together more for mutual profit.

One of the primary benefactors of the gangs laissez-faire approach are the Mexican cartels, who are finding new partnerships for smuggling drugs, guns and especially humans across the border and into Texas. Many of those smuggled into Texas are being funneled directly into gangs to increase membership.

Despite the high-profile May clash between Bandidos and Cossacks at a Twin Peaks in Waco, the top Tier 1 Threat level gangs in the DPS report are exclusively traditionally Latino prison and street gangs. However, after more than 50 years in existence, the Cossacks finally made their first appearance in the Texas Gang Threat Assessment.